Suspender system and kit

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a suspender system in which fastener members attached to suspender straps provide expeditious attachment to a corresponding attachment member attached to a garment. The attachment member can be a no-sew button stud, a sew-in button, a rivet, a ring, rod or cloth loop. The fastener member can be a suspender clip, or a plastic or metal garter grip. The suspender system can hold pants or trousers in just the right position all day and the “tuck around” sew-in or pinned-in attachments let the wearer tuck in their shirt if they choose. The attachment member can be an attachment ring. The fastener and/or the attachment member having a height of predetermined distance from a garment, such as pants, to allow a worn second garment, such as a shirt, to be tucked around the attachment members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a suspender system in which suspenderscan be worn under a shirt and out of sight and include fastener membersto removably couple the suspenders to corresponding attachment membersattached to an inside of the garment. The suspender system of thepresent invention also allows a shirt to be easily tucked around thefasteners.

2. Description of Related Art

Suspenders used to support pants or trousers on a person's body areknown. The suspenders typically include a pair of straps that fit overthe shoulders of the wearer with ends which attach to the waistband ofthe pants. The ends of the straps of the suspenders typically have a Xor Y shape with button holes at each end of the X or Y shape. Eachbutton hole is attached to a corresponding button positioned on theinside of the waistband. The suspenders are worn over a shirt.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,555,421 describes suspenders having a pair of strapmembers particularly for wearing under loose fitting shirts. At leastone side of each of the strap member has loop members thereon which matewith pieces of hook-type material secured adjacent one end of each ofthe strap members. The pair of strap members are connected together andthe strap members are adjusted with hook and loop material foreliminating adjustment buckles. Clip-type fastener members are affixedto ends of the strap members. The clip-type fasteners clip to the pantsor trousers worn by the wearer. This patent has the shortcoming in whichthe bulky clip-type fastener clips make it difficult for a shirt to betucked into the pants or trousers around the fastener clips withoutundoing the fastener clips. The wearer cannot wear traditionalsuspenders in an out-of-sight or invisible fashion.

As opposed to conventional suspenders that are designed to be worn overthe shirt, it is desirable to provide an undergarment suspender systemthat can be worn under a shirt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to suspender system in which fastenermembers such as for example suspender clips or plastic or metal garterbelt clips, are attached to suspender straps to provide expeditiousattachment to a corresponding attachment member, such as for examplerings, buttons, metal rivets/buttons, or cloth loops, which are attachedto a garment. The suspender system expeditiously attaches suspenderstraps to a garment (pants or skirt) by using corresponding fastenerswhich can be removably attached to attachment members coupled to thegarment. The wearer can experience the practical benefits of suspenders(pants or skirt held in desired waistline position) while wearing theminvisibly under a tucked-in shirt or blouse. This present invention canuse different combinations of the above fastener members andcorresponding attachment members.

In one embodiment, a suspender clip (the fastener member) can beattached expeditiously to a metal or plastic ring (the attachmentmember) that can be sewn into the garment.

In an alternate embodiment, the fastener member is a plastic garter beltclip which is expeditiously attached to the attachment member of asew-in button. In another alternate embodiment, the fastener member is ametal garter belt clip which can be attached expeditiously to theattachment member of a rivet/button/pin mechanism that can be pinned tothe garment and is also expeditiously removable.

In another embodiment, the fastener member is a standard suspender clipwhich is attached to the attachment member of a cloth loop that can besewn into the garment.

During use of the suspender system, the attachment member is attached tothe inner waistband of the garment. The suspender straps are positionedover the shoulders of the wearer before putting on a shirt or blouse.The fastener member is coupled to the corresponding attachment member.The shirt or blouse is put on over the suspenders. The shirt or blousecan be tucked around the fastener member between the fastener member andthe attachment member. Alternatively, the shirt or blouse can be wornoutside of the garment and not tucked in or the suspenders can be wornover the shirt or blouse.

The present invention has the advantage that the suspender system canhold pants or trousers in just the right position all day, and the“tuck-around” sew-in or pinned-in attachments let the wearer tuck intheir shirt if they choose. Worn out of sight, no one knows thatsuspenders are being worn. The invention will be more fully described byreference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front and side elevational view of suspenders in accordancewith the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the suspenders;

FIG. 3 is a back elevational view of the suspenders;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the suspenders;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the suspenders from the opposite side;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the suspenders;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the suspenders from the opposite end;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a suspender system includingattachment members;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the suspender system;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an attachment member used in thesuspender system;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the attachment member shown inFIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the attachment member shown inFIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the suspender system including theattachment member of FIG. 8 during use.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of a suspendersystem during use.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of a suspendersystem during use.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of a suspendersystem during use.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of a suspendersystem during use.

FIG. 18A is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of asuspender system during use.

FIG. 18B is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of asuspender system during use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodimentof the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be usedthroughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or likeparts.

FIGS. 1-7 illustrate suspenders 10 in accordance with the teachings ofthe present invention. Suspender straps 12, 13 and 14 are attached tojunction member 15. Strap 12 can be attached to or threaded through ring16 on side 17 of junction member 15. Straps 13 and 14 can be attached toor threaded through ring 18 on side 19 of junction member 15. Ends 22,23 and 24 of respective straps 12, 13 and 14 can be coupled torespective straps 12, 13 and 14 for example by sewing as shown in FIG.2.

Ends 25 and 26 of respective straps 13 and 14 can be doubled overrespective straps 13 and 14 and secured with buckles 27. Buckles 27 canbe adjusted along the length of respective straps 13 and 14 foradjusting the length of straps 13 and 14. Buckles 27 include bucklecoupler 29 for contacting respective straps 13 and 14 after adjustmentof the desired length of respective straps 13 and 14 as shown in FIG. 3.

Fastener members 30 a-30 c can be formed as clip 31. Fastener member 30a can be attached to end 32 of strap 12 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.Fastener member 30 b can be attached to end 33 of strap 13. Fastenermember 30 c can be attached to end 34 of strap 14. Fastener members 30a-30 c can include fastener ring 35. Respective ends 32, 33 and 34 arethreaded through fastener ring 35 of respective fastener members 30 a-30c and are attached to respective straps 12, 13 and 14 for example bysewing.

Clip 31 includes clip members 36, 37 coupled to one another with biasmember 38 as shown in FIG. 1. Clip members 36, 37 can be opened bypressing on bias member 38 to move clip members 36, 37 away from oneanother. Clip members 36, 37 can be closed by releasing bias member 38.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic diagrams of suspender system 40 inaccordance with the teaching of the present invention. Suspender system40 includes suspenders 10 and attachment member 50.

Attachment member 50 can include coupling ring 52 coupled or integralwith attachment ring 54 as shown in FIGS. 10-12. Coupling ring 52 canhave for example a circular or elliptical shape. Attachment ring 54 canhave, for example, a circular or elliptical shape. Coupling ring 52 canhave a diameter D₁ which is larger than diameter D₂ of attachment ring54 as shown in FIG. 11. For example, diameter D₁ can be in the range ofabout 0.50 to about 0.75 inches. For example, diameter D₂ can be in therange of about 0.125 to about 0.25 inches.

Coupling ring 52 can be removably coupled to fastener member 30 as shownin FIG. 13. Attachment ring 54 is attached to waistband 62 of garment60. Attachment ring 54 can be sewn to waistband 62 with stitches 64 at aposition beneath top 63 of waistband 62. Attachment ring 54 can beattached to inner surface 65 of waistband 62. Alternatively, attachmentring 54 can be stapled or sewn to waistband 62. For example, garment 60can be pants, trousers, shorts or a skirt.

Height H₁ of coupling ring 52 is selected to allow coupling ring 52 tobe a predetermined distance from attachment ring 54 to allow edge 72 ofgarment 70 to be tucked around fastener member 30 between fastenermember 30 and coupling ring 52. For example, height H₁ can be in therange of about 1.0 to about 2.0 inches. For example, garment 70 can be ashirt or a blouse.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of suspender system 80 in accordance withthe teaching of the present invention. Suspender system 80 includessuspenders 10 and attachment member 82. Attachment member 82 includesattachment rod 84, that is removable. Attachment rod 84 has length L₁which is sufficient to removably attach fastener member 30.

Attachment rod member 85 positioned at end 86 is integral withattachment rod 84. Attachment rod member 87 positioned at end 88 isintegral with attachment rod 84.

Attachment rod member 85 and attachment rod member 87 can be attached toinner surface 65 of waistband 62. Attachment rod member 85 andattachment rod member 87 can be pinned to waistband 62. Alternatively,attachment rod member 85 and attachment rod member 87 can be pinned orstapled to waistband 62.

Height H₂ of fastener member 30 is selected to allow edge 72 of garment70 to be tucked around attachment member 82 between fastener member 30,between fastener member 30 and attachment member 82 and over waistband62. For example, height H₂ can be in the range of about 1.0 to about 1.5inches.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of suspender system 90 in accordance withthe teaching of the present invention. Suspender system 90 includessuspenders 100 and attachment member 92. Suspenders 100 can be the sameas suspenders 10 except fastener member 30 is replaced with fastenermember 110. Fastener member 110 includes coupling member 112 attachingto fastener ring 113. Coupling extension 114 extends from couplingmember 112. Coupling extension 114 include flange 115 and flange 116.Flange 115 includes curvature 117 and flange 116 includes curvature 118for forming opening 119. Coupling section 120 extends below opening 119.

Attachment member 92 includes attachment rod 94. Coupling nut 93 isattached to attachment rod 94. For example, coupling nut 93 can have ahexagonal shape. Coupling nut 93 can be received within opening 119.Coupling nut 93 can be slidably moved into coupling section 120 betweenflanges 115 and 116 forming a track for removably coupling fastener 110to attachment member 92.

Attachment rod member 95 is positioned at end 96 of attachment rod 94.Attachment rod member 97 is positioned at end 98 of attachment rod 94.Attachment rod member 95 and attachment rod member 97 can be pinned toinner surface 65 of waistband 62. Attachment rod member 95 andattachment rod member 97 can be pinned to waistband 62.

Height H₃ of fastener member 110 is selected to allow edge 72 of garment70 to be tucked around attachment member 92 between fastener member 110and attachment member 92. For example, height H₃ can be in the range ofabout 0.5 to about 1.0 inches.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of suspender system 120 in accordancewith the teaching of the present invention. Suspender system 120includes suspenders 121 and attachment member 122. Suspenders 121 can bethe same as suspenders 10 except fastener member 30 is replaced withfastener member 130. Fastener member 130 includes coupling member 132attached or integral with fastener ring 135. Fastener ring 135 attachesto respective suspenders 12, 13, and 14. Coupling extension 134 extendsfrom coupling member 132. Coupling extension 134 includes opening 136.

Attachment member 122 includes button 123. Button 123 can be sewn towaistband 62 with stitches 125. Button 123 can be received withinopening 136 of coupling extension 134. Button 123 can be slidably movedtoward coupling section 137 of coupling member 132 for removably tofastener member 130 to attachment member 122.

Height H₄ of fastener member 130 is selected to allow edge 72 of garment70 to be tucked around attachment member 122 between fastener member 130and attachment member 122. For example, height H₄ can be in the range ofabout 0.5 to about 1.0 inches.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of suspender system 200 in accordancewith the teaching of the present invention. Suspender system 200includes suspenders 10 and attachment member 202. Attachment member 202has a length L₁ which is sufficient to removably attach fastener member30. End 204 of attachment member 202 can be sewn to waistband 62 withstitches 205. Attachment member 202 can be formed of cloth.Alternatively, attachment member 202 can be glued or stapled towaistband 62. Height H₂ of fastener member 30 is selected to allow edge72 of garment 70 to be tucked around attachment member 202 betweenfastener member 30, between fastener member 30 and attachment member 202and over waistband 62. For example, height H₂ can be in the range ofabout 0.5 to about 1.0 inches.

A kit can be formed of suspenders 10 along with a plurality ofattachment members 50. During use, straps 13 and 14 are placed over theshoulders of a wearer and are positioned at the front and strap 12 ispositioned at the rear of the wearer. Buckles 27 are adjusted foradjusting the length of straps 13 and 14. A pair of attachment members50 are attached to garment 60 at a distance from one another on a frontor side surface of garment 60. A third attachment member 50 is attachedat a rear of garment 60. Each of fasteners 30 a, 30 b and 30 c areopened to receive a respective coupling ring 52. Each of fastenermembers 30 a, 30 b, and 30 c are closed after receiving coupling ring52.

Alternatively, the kit can be formed of suspenders 10 along with aplurality of attachment members 82. For example, the kit can contain 15attachment members 82 for attaching to five garments. Alternatively, thekit can be formed of suspenders 100 along with a plurality of attachmentmembers 92. For example, the kit can contain 15 attachment members 92.Alternatively, the kit can be formed of suspenders 120 and a pluralityof attachment members 122. Alternatively, the kit can be formed ofsuspenders 10 along with a plurality of attachment members 202.

FIG. 18A is a schematic diagram of suspender system 220 in accordancewith the teaching of the present invention. All of the features ofsuspender system 220 are the same as suspender system 120, except forbutton 123. In suspender system 220, instead of button 123, the systemuses no-sew button stud 124 that consists of two parts; female head 125and male insert 126. Female head 125 is positioned adjacent innersurface 140 of coupling member 132. No-sew button stud 124 can beconnected by piercing the pants material to create an opening forinsertion of no-sew button stud 124. In this configuration, the shirttail can be positioned over no-sew button stud 124. Coupling member 132and fastener member 130 can be then placed over garment 70 and presseddown over the material and then over no-sew button stud 124, usingopening 136. No-sew button 124 can be slidably moved toward couplingsection 137 to secure garment 70 material in place. Coupling section 137includes opening 138 which has a smaller diameter than female head 125of no-sew button stud 124.

FIG. 18B is a schematic diagram of suspender system 220 in accordancewith the teaching of the present invention. In this embodiment, femalehead 125 is position adjacent outer surface 142 of coupling member 132.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments areillustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments,which can represent applications of the principles of the invention.Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised inaccordance with these principles by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A suspender system comprising; a plurality ofsuspender straps, a plurality of fastener members, each of said fastenermembers attached to a first end of a respective on of the suspenderstraps, and a plurality of attachment members, each of said attachmentmembers adapted to be attached to a first garment at a position belowthe top of the waistband, said attachment member adapted to allow a wornsecond garment to be placed over said attachment member, wherein each ofsaid fastener members can be removably received over worn second garmentand coupled to a respective one of said attachment members.
 2. Thesuspender system of claim 1 wherein said fastener member includes acoupling extension, said coupling extension having an extension openingand a coupling section below said opening, said attachment member beingadapted to be received in said opening and slidably moved into saidcoupling section.
 3. The suspender system of claim 2 wherein saidattachment member includes a no-sew button, wherein said no-sew buttonis received in said opening and slidably moved into said couplingsection.
 4. The suspender system of claim 3 wherein said couplingsection includes a coupling opening, said coupling opening being asmaller diameter than said coupling opening.
 5. The suspender system ofclaim 4 wherein said no-sew button includes a female head and a maleinsert, the female head being a diameter larger than said couplingopening.
 6. The suspender system of claim 5 wherein said female head ispositioned adjacent an inner surface of said coupling section.
 7. Thesuspender system of claim 5 wherein said female head is positionedadjacent an outer surface of said coupling section.
 8. The suspendersystem of claim 2 wherein each of said fastener members includes afastener ring, said fastener ring adapted for attaching said fastenermember to one of said straps.
 9. The suspender system of claim 1comprising three suspender straps and further comprising a junctionmember, a first end of first and second of the suspender straps beingattached to one edge of the junction member and a first end of a thirdof the suspender straps being attached to an opposite edge of thejunction member.
 10. The suspender system of claim 1 wherein the firstand second of the suspender straps each include a buckle, a second endof the first and second suspender straps being inserted into saidbuckle, wherein said buckle can adjust a length of the first and secondsuspender straps.
 11. A kit comprising a plurality of suspender straps,a plurality of fastener members, each of said fastener members attachedto a first end of a respective on of the suspender straps, and aplurality of attachment members, each of said attachment members adaptedto be attached to a first garment at a position below the top of thewaistband, said attachment member adapted to allow a worn second garmentto be placed over said attachment member, wherein each of said fastenermembers can be removably received over worn second garment and coupledto a respective one of said attachment members.
 12. The suspender systemof claim 11 wherein each of said fastener members is a clip, said clipincludes a pair of clip members coupled to one another with a biasmember, wherein said clip can be opened by pressing on said bias memberto move said clips members away from one another and said clip can beclosed by releasing said bias member to move said clip members towardone another.
 13. The suspender system of claim 11 wherein each of saidfastener members includes a fastener ring, said fastener ring adaptedfor attaching said fastener member to one of said straps.
 14. Thesuspender system of claim 11 wherein said attachment member comprises acoupling ring and said coupling ring has a diameter for extending thepredetermined distance and said clip is removably attached to saidcoupling ring.
 15. The suspender system of claim 11 wherein saidattachment member further comprises an attachment ring coupled orintegral with said coupling ring, said coupling ring has a diameter D₁which is larger than diameter of D₂ of said attachment ring, saidattachment ring adapted to be attached to said inner surface of saidwaistband.
 16. The suspender system of claim 11 wherein the diameter D₁is in the range of about 0.50 to about 0.075 inches and the diameter D₂is in the range of about 0.125 to about 0.25 inches.
 17. The suspendersystem of claim 11 wherein said coupling ring and said attachment ringhave a circular or elliptical shape.
 18. The suspender system of claim11 wherein said coupling ring has a circular shape and said attachmentring has an elliptical shape.
 19. The suspender system of claim 11wherein said attachment member includes an attachment rod which haslength L₁ which is sufficient to removably attach to said fastenermember.
 20. The suspender system of claim 11 wherein a first attachmentrod member is positioned at a first end of said attachment rod and asecond attachment rod member is positioned at a second end of saidattachment rod, said first attachment rod member and said secondattachment rod member being adapted to be attached to the inner surfaceof said waistband.